Method of and apparatus for taping cables and the like



Nov. 3, 193.1. E. G. LoQMas L@ METHOD OF AND APPARATUS vFOR TAPING CABLES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. l,v 1930 3 Shee'ts-Shee; 1

VENIOR.

BY g M @MQTTORNEYS e E. G. LOOMIS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TAPING CABLES AND THE LIKE INVVENTORZ E. G. LooMls 1,830,668

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TAPING CABLES AND xTHE LIKE Nov. 3, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ilm A TTORNE YS.

.Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EVARTS G. LOOMIS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR .TO THE OKONIllE-CALLENDER CABLE COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JJERSEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TAPING CABLES AND THE LIKE Application led october 1, 1930. Serial No. 485,805.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for applying tape to conductors in the manufacture of electric cables.

In the manufacture of electric cables of the taped type, it is customary to rotate a luralit of taping heads bodlly about the lbrwar ly advancing conductor helically to apply the tapes to the conductor. In such machines, however, diili'culty has been experienced in applying all the tapes under the proper tenslon and also in maintaining a constant or uniform tension on the tapes. The result is that skilled operators are required for the operation of the machines and even at best results are unsatisfactory.

One of. the objects of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of taping apparatus for use in the manufacture of electric cables, so constructed and arranged that the tapes will be applied under uniform tension, means being provided also in connection with my improved apparatus whereby the tension on any tape can be determined at all times, an indlcator or indicators being provided for this purpose a reading of which 7 shows the tape tension.

In the accompanyin drawings in which I have illustrated an em odiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevational, part sectional view of one of my improved taping heads;

Fig. 2 is a view taken substantially on the line 2 2 .of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken4 substantially on the line 4- 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of an air connection employed in my'improved apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a view substantially on the line 6 6 of. Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3.

As stated at the outset of this description, the present invention is directed to a machine adapted for -helically applying tapes to an electric conductor in the manufacture of electric cables, and in this connection 1 designates the conductor, usually of the stranded type, of an electric cable which it is desired to tape; this conductor being fed through the machine in the usual way, as for instance by attaching the forward end of the conductor to a driven reel which draws the conductor through the machine.

For simplicity of illustration I have shown only one taping head which I have located Iat the starting end of the machine so as to apply the first tapes to the conductor, it being understood that in practice there is a series of these heads, all of the same construction, and disposed at intervals along the length of the cable. Each head comprises an inner stationary sleeve 2, mounted in any suitable support. Mounted for rotation on this sleeve is a rotatable sleeve 3, carrying a pulley 4 driven by a belt 5 or other suitable driving means. On the outer rotatable sleeve 3 to be rotated therewith about the conductor 1 which passes through the center of the sleeve 2 are a plurality of tape spool lsupporting brackets 6,

andl 8, respectively. The bracket 6 carries thr/ee spools of tape designated 9, 10 and 11, respectively; the bracket 7 carries three spools of tape designated 12, 13 and 14, respectively; while the bracket 8 carries three spools of tape designated 15, 16 and 17, respectively. It is to. be understood, of course, that the number of tape spools may be varied as desired, the number shown being merely by way of illustration.

Each of the tape supporting brackets is adjustable to vary its angularity with respect to the axis of the cable 1, so as properly to adiust the angle of the lay of each tape about the cable. This adjustment is provided by a worm 18 and worm gear sector 19 for each bracket, the bracketafter adjustment being held'rigidly in position by a nut and bolt 20 cooperating with a slot 21 in each bracket.

Each bracket carries a hollow spindle 22 and each spindle is provided with a series of ball bearings 23, the function of which will be brought out hereinafter. Each splndle supports three collars or sleeves 24,

25 and 26, respectively., rotatable on the bearings 23, there being a set of bearin s for each collar. Each collar receives an supports a spool of tape as plainly shown in Fig. 6, for instance, where the construction of this part of the apparatus is shown in some detail.

If the construction so?t far described be borne in mind, it will be appreciated that rotation of the pulley 4 to drive the sleeve 3 will carry the spools of tape 9, 10 and 11, 12, 13 and 14, and 15, 16 and 17 about the conductor 1, and inasmuch as the tape spools are mounted at an angle to the axis of the conductor 1 and inasmuch as this conductor is advancing the tapes will be laid up about the` conductor in a helix.

It will be appreciated also that unless the machine is adjusted at frequent intervals, the tension with which the tapes are applied to the cable or conductor will vary by reason of the reduction of the diameters of the tape spools. In actual practice it is impossible t0 maintain a uniform tension on the tapes and the best that can be done is to employ the services of a skilled operator. Even then results are not as good as desired.

In this connection I p-rovide the bracket 6 with three sets of pressure or tape-tension regulating shoes designated 27, 28 and 29, respectively. The shoe 27 is carried at the outer end of an arm 3Q pivoted on a spindle 31 mounted on the bracket 6. The shoe 28 is mounted on the outer end of an arm 32 pivoted on a spindle 33 on the same bracket, while the shoe 29 is mounted at the outer end of an arm 34 pivoted on a spindle 35 on the same bracket. It will be seen that each bracket is similarly equipped.

Integral with the pressure arm 30 is an actuating arm 36, standing at an angle to the arm 30. The pressure arms 32 and 34 are likewise provided with similar actuating arms 37 and 38, respectively.

Each of the brackets 6, 7 and 8 carries also three air cylinders designated 39, 40 and 41, respectively. Each cylinder is provided with an air operated piston 42, each piston in turn being provided with a connecting rod 43, attached to the piston by a ball and socket connection. The outer end of the connecting rod of the piston of cylinder 39 is connected to the actuating arm 36; of the rod of cylinder 40 to actuating arm 37; and of the rod of cylinder 41 to the actuating arm 38. It will be seen from this construction, therefore, that, generally speaking, if air be admitted on top of the pistons in the various cylinders pressure to any degree desired may be applied through the shoes 27, 28 and 29 to the peripheries of the tape spools.

The spindle y31 which mounts the arm 30 also carries a pair of guide arms 44. Likewise, the spindle for the arm 32'mounts a similar pair of guide arms 45, and the spindle 35 for the arm 34 mounts a similar pair of arms 46. An inspection of the drawings will show that the arms 44 straddle the spool of tape 9, the arms 45 the spool of tape 10, and the arms 46 the spool of tape 11, so as to prevent side motion of the spools on their sleeves 24, 25, and 26, respectively.

In order that the guide arms may be removed from the machine without necessitating removal of the pressure arms, in fact without disturbing these arms or the air cylinders or the connection of the pistons of the air cylinders to the pressure arms, the hub of each pair of guide arms is slotted as shown at 47 in Fig. 7, and the spindle which in each instance supports the pressure arm and a pair of guide arms is flattened as shown at 48 and 49. In place the guide arms are held by thumb screw 50, this thumb screw engaging the flattened surface 49, so that the slot 47 is out of line with the flattened surfaces 48 and 49. When, however, it is desired to remove the guide arms from the supporting stud, the thumb screw 50 is backed out, the arms given a turn until the slot 47 is in line with the flattened surfaces 48 and 49, whereupon the arms may be lifted out.

Reverting to the construction of the pressure shoes 27 28 and 29. Upon reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 9, it will be seen that each of these shoes comprises a block 50 which is pivoted intermediate its ends to its corresponding pressure arm. This block is rovided with a wedge shaped groove 51 w ich receives a pair of brake shoes or pressure applying shoes 52 and 53. These shoes are in two parts and provide a rectangular slot between them for the reception of the tape spool, while their outer surfaces are so shaped, as shown at 54 and 55, as to provide a wedge which is received by the wedge shaped slot 51 in the block 50. The two parts of each shoe are held apart so as to bring their inclined surfaces in contact with thesides of the wedge shaped slot 51 b v a spring 56. 57 designates pins projecting from the inclined sides of the two parts of each shoe into slots 59 provided for that purpose in the block 50. This permits the shoes to move inwardly and outwardly in the wedge shaped slot 51 so as to make the shoes self-adjusting.

Air is supplied to the air cylinders 39, 40 and 41 from any suitable source of power, by way of a pipe 59 which is provided with a reducing valve 60 and igauge 61. Surrounding the stationary bearingsleeve 2 is a stationary sleeve 62 and this sleeve is secured to the sleeve 2 by a pair of threaded nipples 63 and 64, each of which is provided with a port 65 communicating with a port 66 in the sleeve 2 extended' longitudinally thereof and with which port the pipe 59 is in communication.

On the outside of the sleeve 62 is a rotatable sleeve 67rotatable with the rotatable mount 3. The sleeve 67 receives a threaded coupling 68 by which a pipe 69, which communicates with each of the cyllnders 39, 40 and 41, is attached to the rotatable sleeve 67. Rings 70 and 71 and packing 72 and 73 make an air-tight joint between sleeves 67 and 62 at the ends thereof, so that air from pipe 59 can pass through the nipples 63, 64 and coupling 68 to pipe 69 and from thence tothe air chambers 39,40 and 41.

In order that the tension on the various tapes may be measured, each of the brackets 6, 7 and 8 is provided with a tension measuringdevice designated 74, and 76, respectlvely. The construction of one of these measuring devices is shown in detail in Fig. 8. .Referring to this figure of the drawings, 77 1s a spindle on the exterior of which are mounted sleeves 7 8, 79 and 80, a sleeve for each tape the tension in which is to be measured. The sleeves 7 8, 79 and 80 are held against longitudinal movement on thespindle by a plate 81, held to the spindle by screws 82. The spindles at intervals are provided with bores 83, 84 and 85, each of which is lined with insulation 86. In the bottom of each bore is a plate 87 to which a conductor 88 is attached. Above each of these plates is any suitable material the electrical resistance of which varies with pressure on the materia such as carbon 89; and above this layer of carbon or other suitable material in each bore is a block 90.` This block receives a roller 91 which is mounted in the block on a pin 92, the axis of rotation of each of these rollers being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle 77. Each of the sleeves 7 8, 79 and 80 rests on one of these rollers and it will be appreciated that inasmuch as the tape in its passage to the conn ductor 1 rides over these sleeves 78, 79 and 80, pressure will be' applied through the sleeve, roller 91 and block 90 to the carbon or other material beneath the block.

93 designates a transformer, the primary of which may be connected to any suitable source of power. One terminal of the secondary 94 of the transformer is grounded, as

shown at 95, while the other terminal of the l transformer secondary is connected by con ductor 96 to a suitable indicating instrument 97 and from thence through collector rings 98 and conductors 99 to each of the wires leading from the bottom of each of the bores in the spindle 77. As a consequence of this connection, the pressure of thelsleeves 7 8, 79 and upon their respective rollers 91 can be measured and a reading taken on the instrument 97. It will be understood, of course, that the instrument 97 and collector rings 98 may be so arranged that a reading of the tension on any of the tapes on the head can be taken at any time instead of a read# ing of the tension on the tapes 9, 10 and 11, as illustrated.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a machine or apparatus adaptcomprising the cylinders 39, 40 and 41 is directly across the center of the spools and inasmuch as when the spools are reduced in diameter due to the tape being withdrawn therefrom the pressure on each spool is to one side of the center of the spool I automatically compensate for the shortening of the 0p- .erating arms or actuating arms 36, 37 and 38 due to these arms being swung about their pivots as the shoes travel inwardly.

It will be seen also that the presentjnvention also provides for measuring the tension on each of the tapes during the operation of the machine. This, of course, is of great advantage inasmuch .is it enables an operator to determine whether or not the machine is functioning properly merely by glancing at the instrument 97.

I have not `one into great detail on the connection of this instrument 97 because the same is capable of being connected into 'the circuit in a number of Ways. As illustrated, it will be appreciated that the saine is adapted to indicate the tension on the tapes of three spools of the head, but as above explained can readily be so connected to the other tapes that a reading for the nine tapes of the one head may be taken from the one instrument. As a matter of fact it is a simple matter to connect all of the heads of the machine to the one instrument so that a reading can be taken at a central point in that it might be preferrblrl to place a measuring instrument at each ica It is to be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction above described within the purview of my invention.

1. In a machine for the manufacturey of electric cables the combination of a rotatable sleeve through which a conductor to be taped is to be fed or advanced continuously, a bracket carried by said rotatable sleeve, a plurality of spools of tape mounted on said bracket for independent rotation on their respective axes, said spools of tape being so disposed with respect to the conductor to be taped that as the sleeve is rotated the tape will be withdrawn from said spools and applied to the conductor in a helix, a pressure shoe adapted to engage the periphery of each spool of tape, an arm for supporting each shoe, an actuating arm for each of said supporting arms, and means for actuating a uniform pressure, whereby each tape will be applied to the conductor under uniform tension.

2. In a machine for the manufacture of electric. cables the combination of a bracket for supporting a plurality of spools of tape in position to be carried bodily about the conductor being taped, a pressure shoe for engagement with the periphery of each spool of tape, an actuating arm operatively connected to each of said pressure shoes, and air operated means for .actuating said arms.

3. In a machine for the manufacture of electric cables the combination of rotatable means for supporting a plurality of spools of tape in operative relation to a conductor f to which the tape is to be applied and air operated means adapted to apply pressure to each spool of tape as the tape is being applied to the cable conductor, said air operated means being so constructed and arranged that the tension on the tape will be constant.

4. In a machine for applying tapes to the conductor of an electric cable the combinationof a taping head adapted to mount a plurality of spools of tape, means for rotating said head about the axis of the conductor to be taped whereby the tapes will be applied helically to the conductor, a pressure shoe for each spool of tape, actuating means for said shoe comprising a pivoted actuating arm for each shoe, iixed air operated means for moving each actuating arm about its pivot to apply pressure through the pressure shoes to the periphery of the tape spools, said pressure shoes moving in an arc so as to compensate for the relative y movement between the actuating arms and the air operated means, whereby the pressure applied to the periphery of the tape spools will be maintained constant.

5. In a machine for applying tape to the conductor of an electric cable the combination of a pressure shoe adapted to engage the periphery of a spool of the tape which is to be applied to the conductor, a pivoted supporting arm for the shoe, an actuating arm for the supporting arm rigid with the supporting arm. and pivoting on the same axis, air operated means for pivoting said actuating arm, the connection of the air operated means to the actuating arm extending between the pivot for the actuating arm p and said pressure shoe.

6. In a machine for applying tape lto .the conductor of an electric cable, means for maintaining the tape under constant tension as the tape is being applied to the conductor, said means comprising a shoe engageable with the periphery of the tape, a supporting arm for said shoe, an actuating arm for the supporting arm rigid with the supporting arm, a common pivot for both arms, air operated means connected to the actuating arm for pivoting the supporting arm and main- A 1,sso,eos

taining the shoe in engagement with the ta spools, the eccentricity of the thrust of t e pressure shoe with respect to the center of the tape spool increasing in proportion to the decrease in the angle between the air actuated means and the actuating arm whereby a constant pressure on the air actuated 4means will maintain the pressure shoe in contact with the tape spool with a constant pressure throughout the reduction in the diameter of the spool due to the application of tape therefrom to the conductor of the cable. In tape applying mechanism for use in connection with the taping of conductors for electric cables the combination of a pressure shoe adapted to engage the periphery of a spool of the tape to be applied to the conductor, a pivoted supporting arm for said shoe and on which the shoe is pivoted, an actuating arm therefor rigid with the supporting arm and disposed at an angle thereto. an air cylinder disposed at an angle to said actuatingA arm, a piston in said cylinder, a connecting rod connecting said piston to the actuating arm. whereby the application of air above said piston will exert a turning movement on said actuating arm to maintain said shoe in engagement with the peri phery of the tape spool.

8. In a machine for applying tape to the conductor of an electric cable. the combination of a pressure shoe adapted to engage the periphery of a spool of the tape which is to be applied to the conductor, a pressure arm carrying said shoe. a guide arm for the tane as the same is led to the conductor, a spindle supporting the pressure arm and guide arm.

tape about the cable being taped to draw tape from the spools of tape and apply it to the cable conductor, and means engaging the tapes before the tapes are drawn from the spools for regulating automatically the tension in the tapes whereby the tapes will be applied to the cable under uniform tension.'

10. In a machine for manufacturing cables the combination of a taping head, a plurality of spools of tape carried by said head, driving means for rotating the head about the axis of the cable being taped whereby the spools will be rot-ated about their individual axes and the tape withdrawn from said spools and helically applied to the cable, and means engaging the tapes radially, before the tapes are withdrawn from the spools, for retarding the rotation of said spools whereby the tension under which the tapes are applied will be maintained constant.

11. In a machine for manufacturing cables the combination of a rotatable sleeve, a pluralit of brackets attached to said sleeve said brac ets bein spaced ciroumferentialiy of the sleeve, a p urality of spools of tape carried by each bracket, means for rotating said 1 sleeve so that said brackets and s ools will be carried or rotated about the ca le bein taped and the spools of tape will be rotate about their indlvidual axes, and means engaging the eripheries of the tapes before the tapes are rawn from the spools and operatlng automatically for controlling the rotation of the spools of tape to effect application of the tape to the conductor of the cable under a uniform tension.

12. In a machine for the manufacture of cables the combination of a-rotatable sleeve surrounding a cable conductor which is to be taped, a plurality of brackets carried by said rotatable sleeve and spaced about the periphery of said sleeve, spools of tape carried by each of said brackets, said spools being set at an angle to the axis of the conductor of the cable so that as the head. is rotated the spools will be carried -bodil about the conductor and each spool rotate on its own axis and tape withdrawn from said spools and helically applied to the conductor of the cable, and means engaging the tapes radially, before the tapes are; withdrawn from the spools, for controlling the rotation of said spools, said controlling means automatically compensating for the gradual reduction in diameter of each s ool of tape as the tape is withdrawn there rom and applied to the conductor of the cable to effect application of the tapes toy the cable lconductor under uniform tension. y

This specification signed this 10th day of September, 1930. y EVARTS Gr.l LOOMIS.

6 l CERTIFICATE or conmsenN.

Paten: No; 1,830,668. Granted November 3, 1931, to

EvARrs G. Looms.

lt is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously described and specified as "The Okonite-Callender Cable Company", whereas said name should have been described and specified as The Okonite-Callender Cable Company, Incorporated,.as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealedthis 8th day of December, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

